The Pentagon says that India becomes ready to attack Pakistan in retaliation for the recent Mumbai attacks that killed about 200 people.

Washington has information that India’s air force began preliminary preparations for a possible attack, three Pentagon officials told CNN on Monday.

One official said that India’s air force ‘went on alert’, giving no further details.

The US concluded these preliminary preparations could put India quickly in the position to launch air strikes against suspected terrorist camps and targets inside Pakistan, a second official said.

(ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW)

Washington also has information that a single Indian aircraft violated Pakistani airspace twice on Saturday, according to one of the officials.

The official, however, added that the incursion was inadvertent, saying that there is no information to indicate it was planned.

Tension between New Delhi and Islamabad has intensified after Mumbai terror attacks which left more than 170 people dead and 300 others injured.

The US and Indian intelligence reports suggested the Mumbai attacks were carried out by Pakistan-based militants. Pakistan denies the allegations, saying Islamabad is waiting for evidence from New Delhi proving Pakistani nationals were involved in the attacks.